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JNI E M I R 



JOSEPH AND MARY KINSLEY. 



"Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings ihou hast perfected 
praise."— Matt. xxi. 16. 



WRITTEN FOR THE i^MERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, AND 
REVISED BY THE COMMITTEE OF TUBLICATION. 







AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 

146 CHESTNUT STREET. 



^/rs^_y 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1836, by 
Paul Beck, Jr., Treasurer, in trust for the American Sunday- 
school Union, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the 
Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



Jif^t 



JOSEPH AND MARY KINSLEY. 



CHAPTER I. 



Joseph Kinsley was born at 
West Point, New York, on the 
24th of October, 1828. He was 
a remarkably healthy child, and 
manifested a sweet and playful 
disposition in infancy, so that he 
became the favourite of the do- 
mestics and of the visiters to his 
father's family. There was some- 
thing bold and striking in his early 

1* 5 



6 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

character^ which pleased and 
attracted the attention even of 
strangers. He was of a warm 
and ardent temper, though gentle 
and affectionate, and this dispo- 
sition led him into errors which 
required considerable parental 
restraint and watchfulness. 

He was taught his prayers as 
soon as he could speak distinctly, 
and to reverence the Supreme 
Being and holy things ; and even 
before he could speak distinctly, 
when he observed his elder bro- 
ther and sister kneeling at their 
mother's lap, he would kneel 
down also, and clasping his little 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 7 

hands, try to repeat what they 
said. 

He became a member of the 
West Point Sunday-school, when 
between two and three years of 
age; and scarcely ever missed 
one school the rest of his life, 
unless prevented' from attending 
by bad weather. He was exceed- 
ingly fond of the Sunday-school. 
He was much attached to his 
teacher, and appeared to take 
great pleasure in complying with 
his directions for committing his 
lessons during the week. His little 
heart was touched and melted into 
tenderness, by his teacher asking 



8 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

him (Joseph) to pray for him. 
He never forgot this to the day 
of his death, but would frequently 
and fervently pray, "God bless 

good Mr. ," long after Mr. 

had ceased to be his teacher, 

and to reside at West Point. 

His first exercises at Sunday- 
school were, to commit to me- 
mory, " Easy Questions for a little 
Child, with Answers in the Words 
of Scripture," by Mrs. Sherwood. 
At first he would learn one ques- 
tion and its answer a week, then 
two, till he completed this little 
book, which he knew to the day 
of his death. His next step was 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 9 

to commit a portion of the Bible 
lesson. His parents, or elder bro- 
ther or sister, would assist him in 
reading it over for the first time, 
and explain to him the mean- 
ing of the words which he did 
not understand. He never would 
repeat a word without knowing 
what it meant. Children, I am 
afraid, often repeat Scripture and 
hymns without caring whether 
they understand them or not. 
This is not pleasing to God, nor 
profitable to themselves. They 
should always ask their parents 
or friends to explain what they do 
not know 



10 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

It was a rule in the family for all 
the children to commit one verse 
or more of their Sunday-school 
lesson every morning, so that 
w^hen the Sabbath came round, 
their labour was accomplished 
without its being felt as a task. 
They generally knew their les- 
sons by Saturday morning, and 
thus had the afternoon for recre- 
ation, without anxiety as to the 
morrow. 

Saturday and Sunday even- 
ings were usually devoted to sa- 
cred music. In this all the child- 
ren delighted, and Joseph entered 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 11 

into its enjoyment with all his 
soul. 

In the course of his attendance 
on the Sunday-school, he com- 
mitted to memory many hundred 
texts of Scripture and a great 
many hymns appropriate to his 
age. He retained and made use 
of what he thus learned, and would 
readily quote the texts to discoun- 
tenance wicked practices which 
he observed in other boys, such 
as lying, stealing, swearing, and 
profanation of the Sabbath. "It 
is not right, is it, father? because 
God says. Remember the Sab- 
bath-day to keep it holy." And 



12 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

this is the right way to learn 
Scripture; to make use of it in 
our lives and conversation. 

His progress in acquiring other 
knowledge was equally satisfac- 
tory. He was particularly fond 
of geography and drawing, in 
both of which he made remarka- 
ble progress for one so young. 
The study of French he took up 
of his own accord as a mere 
pastime. He had gone through 
about one-third of an elementary 
book in this language, during the 
last year of his life. 

Joseph was very cheerful, ac- 
tive, and good-natured. He was 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 13 

fond of gardening; and a little 
spot he used to cultivate as well 
as he knew how to do it, will 
long be remembered by his pa- 
rents. A little ever-green plant 
which he found in the mountains, 
and set out with his own hands 
in his garden, was to have been 
removed after his death to grow 
on his grave. But, on examining 
it, it was found that the severity 
of the winter had destroyed it. 

Joseph was fond of innocent 
play and amusement, into which 
he entered heartily for the time. 
Many children, and grown per- 
sons too, think religion makes 
2 



14 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

people gloomy and sorrowful; 
but, so far is this from the truth, 
that they only who are truly 
religious can really enjoy this 
life. 

He would not associate with 
naught}^ boys, and very often he 
would return home before the 
time of play was over, because 
some boy said a bad word, or 
was rude in his behaviour. He 
himself was exceedingly modest 
in his behaviour and appear- 
ance. Never in his life had he 
been known to make use of an 
immodest or naughty word ; and 
such was his strict regard for 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 15 

truth, that he was never known 
to tell a falsehood even in jest. 

Decision was a remarkable 
trait in his character, and from 
his keen perception of right and 
wrong, he almost always acted 
rightly. No persuasion could in- 
duce him to do what he thought 
to be wrong. He was never 
more delighted than when he 
could make himself useful to his 
parents and others. Little boys 
sometimes think it hard to do an 
errand for father or mother, but 
nothing pleased Joseph more. 
Obedience to them was with him 
what it ought to be with all child- 



16 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

ren, a religious principle; and he 
always complied with their com- 
mands with great cheerfulness. 

He did not value his play- 
things very much; they might 
serve to amuse him for a mo- 
ment, but that was all. His books, 
however, he preserved with great 
care, and often took great plea- 
sure in displaying them to his 
parents, and brothers, and sisters, 
and in mentioning the names of 
those who had given them to 
him. He was generous and will- 
ing to share any nice little thing 
with his companions. 

A more affectionate child ne- 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 17 

ver lived. He would not leave 
the house on any account, to go 
to school or pay a visit, without 
embracing his father and mother; 
and always, when his father went 
out, Joseph would call, "Father, 
let me kiss you good-hyP And 
nothing could give him more pain 
than for his parents to refuse, or 
hesitate to gratify his wishes on 
such occasions, which was some- 
times done when his conduct 
had not been strictly correct. As 
another evidence of his affection, 
may be mentioned the great care 
with which he preserved the let- 
ter his father was in the habit 
2* 



18 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

of writing him on his birth-day. 
The following was found after 
his death, carefully wrapped up 
and put away among the little 
books he prized most. 

West Point, Oct. 24, 1835. 
My dear Son,- — 

This day you are seven years 
old ; which is about one-tenth part 
of the time that our heavenly 
Father usually permits his child- 
ren to stay in this world. But 
often, very often, he takes them 
to himself much sooner ; and you 
know that very little children fre- 
quently die, and go into another 
state of existence. The Saviour 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 19 

takes them into the kingdom of 
heaven, if good children; and so 
will he take you one of these 
days, if you continue to love and 
serve him here. God wishes you 
to be good and to do good. He 
sees you always. If you are ever 
tempted to commit wickedness, 
pray to God to give you strength, 
the evil thought to resist and 
drive away from your mind. 
Think right, and you will be 
pretty sure to act right. Live in 
peace with everybody. Be kind, 
affectionate, and gentle to all your 
companions ; particularly to your 
brother and sisters. Obey your 



20 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

mother, and love her: also your 

kind teacher, Mrs. W , whom, 

I am sure, you will always re- 
member with pleasure for the 
good instruction she has given 
you. We are all much pleased 
with you, and think that you get 
your lessons with great diligence. 
Great men, such as governors, 
judges, ministers, &c., were once 
little boys; and like you, had to 
learn their a, b, c's, and to spell, 
read, and WTite. If your life is 
spared, as each succeeding birth- 
day comes round, I hope you will 
grow wiser and happier, growing 
in grace as well as stature — in- 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 21 

creasing in holiness as well as in 
knowledge. 

A good name is better than 
great riches. 

From your affectionate father. 



Such parental efforts were pro- 
ductive of the happiest effects on 
Joseph. Like Legh Richmond, his 
father found that they formed a 
strong cord by which to bind him 
closer to those guides whom God 
had given to lead him to the fold 
of Christ. 

There was no deception in 
Joseph. If he had committed a 
fault, he would not attempt to con- 



22 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

ceal it. Conscious of integrity 
himself, he trusted without suspi- 
cion to the honesty of others. 
Still he was not credulous, for on 
hearing an extravagant story, he 
often showed his doubts by signi- 
ficantly asking, "Is that really 
truer 

He was of a forgiving dispo- 
sition, and never felt malice 
against any one. When a com- 
panion or any person offends an- 
other, how often do you hear him 
say, " Never mind, sir, Til be up 
with you;" meaning, I will do 
something to hurt you in turn, 
Not so with Joseph. One day 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 23 

he was prevented from getting 
off to school with the rest of the 
children. When he went into 
the school-room, the children 
were enga«;ed at play, which was 
against the rules; and just as Jo- 
seph had laid away his coat and 

hat, Mrs. W — came in, and 

supposing that they were all con- 
cerned in the noise, punished him 
as well as the rest. On returning 
home, he told his father with tears 
in his eyes, that it was not fair to 
punish him; but said he, "Fa- 
ther, I suppose Mrs. W 

thought I had been there all the 
time." He was assured that it 



24 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

was so ; his tears were dried up, 

and Mrs.W enjoyed as much 

of his affection as ever. 

His humility too was remarka- 
ble ; he generally got his lesson 
well, and was often commended 
for his correct deportment ; still he I 
was not vain, and never seemed j 
to think that he had done as much 
as he ought to have done. 

Once he heard a lecture on faith 

at the Sunday-school. Sometime j 
afterwards a picture was given ' 
him which pleased him very much ; 
the subject of it, however, was not 
proper. This he did not know, 
and when his father saw it, he 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 25 

took it from Joseph, rolled it up 
and put it into the fire. "It is 
not a proper picture, my son/' 
Joseph saw the flame kindle upon 
his picture and consume it, then 
turning to his father with a look 
of resignation, mingled with satis- 
faction — " That is faith, father, is 
it not?" "Yes, my son, your fa- 
ther does it for your good ; and so 
our heavenly Father does all 
things for our good, though he 
does not always make the reason 
plain to our minds." 

It was seldom necessary to 
correct Joseph on account of im- 
proper conduct, for the last three 




28 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 



mother's, in the neighbourhood of 
West Point. This was on the 
last Sabbath in March. Joseph 
and Mary attended the Sabbath- 
school, and said their lesson for 
the last time before they went to 
their grandmother's. On Mon- 
day morning Joseph took a long 
ride to his aunt's in the sleigh. 
He was very well and very hap- 
py. In the afternoon his father 
went to see his brothers and sis- 
ters. They were all very well to 
appearance, and inquired anx- 
iously about their dear little sis- 
ter Julia. All the children kissed 
their father when he left, and sent 



i|i|i|i|Tmi|i|i|i|i|i|i i|i|i|i|i|i|i|i 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 



29 



their love to Julia. That even- 
ing, soon after bidding his father 
farewell in a state of perfect 
health, Joseph was taken ill. He 
was brought home in a sleigh on 
Tuesday morning, carefully wrap- 
ped up, but in a high fever. His 
father saw him immediately, and 
after a little preparation, asked 
Joseph if he would be afraid to 
die. He replied with great com- 
posure, " that he was not, and if 
it was God's will, he was ready 
to go to the Saviour." His fa- 
ther told him to put his trust in 
God ; that the doctor would do 

all he could to make bim well; 

3* 



26 JOSEPH KINSLEY, 

or four years of his life. Still 
improprieties were not allowed to 
pass unpunished. Punishment 
was never spared through mis- 
taken tenderness to the child, but 
when necessary, was administer- 
ed in a prayerful spirit, and care 
was taken to convince the child 
that its infliction gave greater 
pain to the parent, than to the 
child. 

Joseph was fond of his Bible, 
the historical part particularly had 
great attractions for him. He 
knew the story of Joseph in 
Egypt by heart. 

During the winter immediately 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 27 

preceding his death, he improved 
exceedingly, and became a child 
of extraordinary promise. His 
parents fondly looked forward to 
the time when he should occupy 
a useful sphere in society as a 
preacher of righteousness, but 
their hopes were blasted; the 
Almighty had other work for 
their dear boy, far from the scenes 
of this life. 

His little sister Julia was taken 
ill of scarlet fever in the latter 
part of March, 1836. As soon 
as the nature of her disease was 
known, her brothers and sisters 
were removed to their grand- 



30 JOSEPH KINSLEY* 

that he must be patient, and fol- 
low his directions in taking medi- 
cine. Joseph said that he would. 
A bed was prepared for him 
in the same room where his little 
sister lay very sick. Joseph was 
here long enough to witness her 
dying agonies ; she died in her 
grandmother's arms. She was a 
lovely little child, three years and 
six months old. She had just 
commenced learning to read on 
her Sunday-school card. One 
of the last lines she ever read, 
was this, "If I do not love God, 
I cannot go to Him." Her fa- 
ther explained to her what it 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 31 

was to love God. " Well, father/' 
said she, "I love God." She was 
warmly attached to her brother 
Joseph, and would frequently cry 
out in her illness, " Come, Joseph, 
come, Joseph." Her disease was 
very violent, and soon terminated 
her life. 

Joseph's throat became quite 
sore, and though it was painful 
for him to swallow, yet he never 
hesitated to take all the drinks 
that were offered to him. When 
his fever increased in violence, 
he bore it with great resignation 
and patience. Part of the time 
he was deprived of his reason. 



32 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

He was very often engaged in 
prayer, or singing the sweet little 
hymns which he had learned at 
Sunday-school. One of the last 
hymns he sang was a favourite 
of his, to the tune of Benevento, 
commencing, " Sinners turn, why 
will ye die," &c. It was called 
Joseph's hymn, because he al- 
ways chose it when they sang in 
the family. — We have printed it 
at the end of the volume. 

He would often ask for his bro- 
ther Edward, and sisters Mary 
and Harriet, and seemed to think 
that he would die. On one oc- 
casion he asked his mother if 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 33 

that was a good room to die in, 
and sometimes, when medicine 
was given to him, he would say, 
"It is of no use;" yet would take 

it cheerfully. 

He was much attached to his 
sister Julia, and would frequently 
call her. At one time, waking 
from a delirious dream, " Father," 
said he, "sister Julia is here. I 
have almost caught her ; but when 
I take hold of her, I cannot feel 
her." The night before he died, 
while his father was watching 
with him, observing that the light 
of the candle rested on his eyes, 
he removed it, lest it should in- 



34 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

jure him. "Now, father," said 
he, "it is night, I will say my 
prayers and go to sleep;" and 
immediately got on his knees 
and said his evening prayers. 
The last prayer that he was 
heard to utter was in these words, 
"O God^ take thy poor little hoy 
to thyself r 

Great hopes were entertained 
that Joseph's strong constitution 
would not sink under the raging 
fever; but, on the fourth day of 
his illness, it was observed with 
grief, that his breathing was be- 
coming difficult; and on Friday 
afternoon his parents saw, with 



JOSEPH KINSLEY. 35 

inexpressible anguish, that they 
must give him up. His disease 
terminated in croup, the fever left 
him: his countenance became 
tranquil and natural, and he lay 
partly on his grandmother's lap, 
supported by pillows, while he 
gently breathed out his spirit. His 
fine blue eye was calm, clear, and 
intelligent. He looked earnestly 
at his father, then at his mother, 
as if to say, ''Good-by, father, 
good-by, mother;" and, finally, 
after fixing it for an instant, with a 
sweet smile, upon his grandmo- 
ther, he turned it upwards toward 
heaven, and it closed in death. 



36 JOSEPH KINSLEY. 

Such was the end of Joseph. 
A sweet falling to sleep in Jesus, 
the happy portion of those only 
who put their trust in him. Of 
Joseph, it may truly be said, 
"Blessed are the dead who die 
in the Lord," for his last words 
were, "O God^ take thy poor 
little hoy to thyself P'' 

He died, Friday evening, 1st of 
April, 1836, aged seven years and 
a half 



MARY KINSLEY. 37 



CHAPTER 11. 

You have now read the ac- 
count of Joseph's life and death. 
His sister Mary was a very gen- 
tle and amiable child, and had 
made good progress in her edu- 
cation. She had always been 
a regular attendant upon the 
Sunday-school. The same sys- 
tem had been observed in train- 
ing up all the family ; and Mary's 
character was a beautiful exhibi- 
tion of the early fruits of piety. 
"Those that seek me early shall 



38 MARY KINSLEY. 

find me," is a very precious pro- 
mise, and ought to encourage 
Christian parents to lead their 
children to the Saviour. 

Mary was taken sick the even- 
ing after Joseph's death, and was 
brought home the next day, Jo- 
seph was buried on Sunday, and 
when his father left her to attend 
his funeral, she asked if her mo- 
ther was going also, and being 
assured that she was not, she 
appeared quite calm and resign- 
ed, though she had been exceed- 
ingly afflicted by the first news 
of his death. 

She was not thought to be 



MARY KINSLEY. 39 

dangerous for the first four days 
of her sickness, though she said 
that she should die. Speaking of 
her brother Joseph and sister 
Julia, she said, "Joseph and Julia 
shall not come to me, but I shall 
go to them, and that other dear 
little sister," that died earlv in the 
winter. She prayed very fervently 
for her father and mother, her 
remaining brother and sister, her 
uncles and aunts, and little cou- 
sins, mentioning many of them 
by name ; for the doctor and his 
family, three of whose lovely 
children soon joined her in hea- 
ven, — for her school companions 



40 MARY KINSLEY. 

and teacher, and all the world. 
Her prayer was very extraordi- 
nary for one so young ; it came 
from the heart, and reached the 
hearts of all who heard it. Did 
not the Lord hear Mary's prayer? 
She called her father and mo- 
ther to her, embraced them ten- 
derly, and kissed them very af- 
fectionately, and bade them fare- 
well. She exhibited great emo- 
tion. It was thought that it arose 
from weakness and nervous ex- I 
citement, as she was not thought f 
to be in a dangerous state, but 
she appeared to know that the 
Lord had appointed a narrow i 



MARY KINSLEY. 41 

limit to her stay on earth. Her 
father attempted to soothe her by- 
caresses, and calling her his darl- 
ing daughter, and promising to 
do so many pleasant things for 
her when she got well: but it 
was not till he told her that he 
hoped she was a good child, and 
that the Saviour would fold her 
in his arms and take her to his 
bosom, that she became tranquil. 
The hope of her recovery was 
disappointed. Shortly after this, 
her fever became violent. It af- 
fected her brain, and almost took 
away her reason. Remedies 
were applied which appeared to 

4"* 



42 MARY KINSLEY. 

afford relief; her life was pro- 
longed for a day or two; but 
on Sunday morning, the 10th of 
April, she entered upon a Sab- 
bath of eternal rest, without a 
struggle, a groan, or a pang, aged 
a little more than nine years. 

Scarcely had Julia and Joseph 
been introduced to their heavenly 
home, before Mary was called to 
join them. Their bodies were 
buried in a beautiful valley on 
the banks of the Hudson, there 
to remain till that day^ when this 
corruptible shall put on incorrupti- 
ble, and this mortal shall put on 
immortality. 



MARY KINSLEY. 43 



CHAPTER III 

Joseph and Mary Kinsley are 
beautiful examples of early piety. 
Joseph was my Sunday-school 
scholar, when I was a cadet in 
the Military Academy at West 
Point. There is no circumstance 
of my residence there, the recol- 
lection of which is so delightful, 
as the time spent with the dear 
boys of that class. Never shall 
I forget their affectionate attach- 
ment. 

Should this little memoir fall 



44 MARY KINSLEY. 

into the hands of any one who 
as yet knows nothing of the pow- 
er of godliness, I would earnestly 
beseech you to consider the em- 
dencefor the reality of religion 
furnished by the life of Joseph. 
If this is not delusion — if the Bi- 
ble be true — if there is a day of 
judgment-' — if there is, in truth, a 
heaven — a hell, — what is before 
you ? Remember, you must stand 
alone before God. Learn there- 
fore of Joseph how to live, that, 
like him, you may know how to 
die, and not be afraid of the judg- 
ment of the great day. 
The Christian parent who reads 



MARY KINSLEY. 45 

this narrative cannot fail to see 
another argument in favour of 
early religious instruction. The 
error is too common to defer this 
till the mind is maturer and vigo- 
rous. And then it is found, when 
too late, that Satan and the world 
have not exercised the same for- 
bearance, but have most indus- 
triously sown the seeds of vice 
and iniquity. 

But the parent who reads this 
memoir will also observe the 
excellent effect, on Joseph and 
Mary, of systematic religious in-^ 
struction. It will not do to give 
the child a sermon on Sunday, 



46 MARY KINSLEY* 

and then let Satan and the worlcT 
have all the rest of the week at 
their own disposal. If you mean 
really to train up your child for 
God, it will require more atten- 
tion and labour than this. Learn 
of the enemy in this respect. He 
is ever watchful to improve little 
occasions. He carefully fosters 
pride, stirs up anger, and suffers 
no opportunity to pass of incul- 
cating his principles. As you are 
the appointed guardians of your 
child's eternal welfare, see that 
you are prepared at all times to 
meet your common enemy. 
There is one thing in the me- 



MARY KINSLEY. 47 

inoir of Joseph, to which I would 
especially direct the attention of 
all those engaged in Sunday- 
schools. His father writes, " His 
little heart was touched and melt- 
ed into tenderness, when his 
teacher asked him (Joseph) to 
pray for him. He never forgot 
this to the day of his death: 
but would frequently and fervent- 
ly pray in simple language of his 

heart, ' God bless good Mr. ,' 

long after Mr. had ceased 

to be his teacher, and to reside at 
West Point." 

This httle incident is full of in- 
struction and encouragement. It 



48 MARY KINSLEY. 

shows the duty of the Sunday 
school teacher to seek an inte- 
rest in the scholars' prayers ; and 
it encourages him to do so, not 
doubting but it will create another 
tie to unite him to his precious 
charge. 

What a delightful consolation 
to know that children are suppli- 
cating the Saviour in your behalf, 
and that he regards them with 
peculiar affection! If then, you 
would have your labours blessed, 
not only pray for, and with your 
pupils, but urge them to pray for 
you. 

And you, my dear young friend, 



MARY KINSLEY. 49 

who may read the history of Jo- 
seph and his sister, I wish you 
to see how lovely a thing it is to 
seek the Lord in the days of your 
youth. Not only does religion 
make you a more obedient and 
affectionate child, a more kind 
and tender brother or sister, but 
it prepares you to join the holy 
angels in heaven, to live with 
them, and praise God for ever. 
But before you can be with them, 
you must die. It may be that 
you will die sooner than Joseph, 
who was not eight years old, or, 
perhaps, God may continue your 
life for a longer time. But then 



50 MARY KINSLEY. 

he says, that before you die, you 
must prepare for heaven, or you 
can never live there. The only 
time to make this preparation is 
NOW. The reason w^hy people 
generally are so afraid to die is, 
because they keep putting off the 
preparation which God requires 
until death comes, and then they 
feel the time so short, and dread 
so much to meet an angry God, 
that they become frightened and 
cannot prepare. But observe how 
sweetly these dear children, Jo- 
seph and Mary, fell asleep in 
Jesus. You know what the beau- 
tiful hymn says, — 



MARY KINSLEY. 51 

** Jesus can make a dying bed 
Feel soft as downy pillows are ; 
While on his breast I lean my head, 
And breathe my life out sweetly there." 

Death had no terrors for them, 
neither will it have for you, if, 
IWie them, you give your heart to 
God. 

A gentleman, at the south, had 
an only daughter, and she be- 
came very sick. The doctor did 
every thing he could to make her 
well, but in vain. She grew worse 
and worse. At last the doctor 
told her father, that she must die. 
She asked her father what the 
doctor said, and when he told 
her that she would never get well, 



52 MARY KINSLEY. 

she was very sorry. — " O, father " 
said she, "the grave is very dark, 
I am afraid to go into it alone — 
wrill you not go v^dth me, father T' 

"No, my dear child; God does 
not wish me to go down to the 
grave now." "Well, mother, will 
you not go with me? — the grave 
is very dark." 

Her father explained to her that 
it was impossible for her mother 
to go with her. She turned over 
in the bed, and like good king 
Hezekiah, she prayed and wept. 
Before long she turned to her 
weeping parents, and with a sweet 
smile said, " O, father, I am not 



MARY KINSLEY. 53 

afraid to go down to the grave, 
now — the Lord Jesus Christ will 
go with me." 

So, my dear friend, if you weep 
for your sins and forsake them, 
and pray to Jesus, he will go 
with you into the dark grave. 
He has been there before you, 
and it will not be dark, when he 
is with you. He will say to you, 
"Fear not ^ for I am with you; 
he not dismayed^ for I am thy 
God: I ivill strengthen thee; 
yea^ I will help thee; yea^ I will 
uphold thee^ with the right hand 
of my righteousness.^'* 

5* 



54 



JOSEPH'S HYMN. 

Sinners, turn, why will ye die 1 
God, your Maker, asks you why ; 
God, who did your being give, 
Made you with himself to live ; 
He the fatal cause demands. 
Asks the work of his own hands. 
Why, ye thankless creatures, why 
Will ye cross his love, and die ? 

Sinners, turn, why will ye die? 
God, your Saviour, asks you why ] 
God, who did your souls retrieve, 
Died himself that ye might live. 
Will you let him die in vain? 
Crucify your Lord again ] 
Why, ye ransomed smners, why 
Will ye slight his grace, and die 1 

Sinners, turn, why will ye die 1 
God, the Spirit, asks you why 1 
He who all your lives hath strove, 
Woo'd you to embrace his love : 
Will ye not his grace receive 1 
Will ye still refuse to live 1 
Why, you long-sought sinners, why 
Will you grieve your God, and die ? 

Dead already, dead within, 
Spiritually dead in sin : 
Dead to God, while here you breathe ; 
Pant you after second death ? 
Will you still in sin remain, 
Greedy of eternal pain 1 
0, ye dying sinners, why, 
Why will ye for ever die ? 

THE END. 



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